Russia Zelensky seeks talks with Moscow for "victory plan"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is seeking talks with Russia to implement his "victory plan". The plan could enable future, more effective diplomatic meetings with Russia, said Zelenskyi according to Ukrainian media before his departure to the USA, where he intends to present his repeatedly announced plan first to President Joe Biden and then to the world public. It contains three points that are to be discussed with Russia in any format.

"The victory plan envisages quick and concrete steps by our strategic partners - from today until the end of December," Zelenskyi told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency. The implementation depends on the partners. The plan should build a bridge to a second peace summit, in which Russia should also take part, he said. At the same time, he once again made it clear that Moscow was not interested in peace talks and wanted to continue the war. Russia was not invited to the first summit in Switzerland in June.

The specific contents of the "victory plan" are not yet known. Moscow has repeatedly criticized the fact that Zelensky has prohibited talks with Russia by decree and that the ban must first be lifted. So far, there have only been isolated contacts via intermediaries, for example in the prisoner exchanges that have been repeatedly organized.

Selensky also said that Biden could still make important decisions until he leaves office and thus strengthen Ukraine. At his meeting with Biden, Zelenskyi intends to once again urge the USA to release its long-range weapons for strikes far into the Russian hinterland. "We need long-range weapons," said Selensky. The country has been defending itself against the Russian war of aggression for more than two and a half years.